Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Saulo von Seehausen

(🇧🇷 Este texto está disponível na versão original PT/BR na segunda metade do post)

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Saulo von Seehausen.

(original picture by Gabriela Amerth)

(original picture by Gabriela Amerth)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Saulo and I started in music very early, studying the piano at 4 years old. Later on, I found myself in Rock music, when I started to take my artistic career more seriously. I’ve played a lot throughout Brazil, writing, recording, and producing music. In 2017 I started the project “saudade”, which became my music persona and got me to play in NYC in three different small tours, braving also into a new artistic place, diving deep into Brazilian aesthetics. This October I release my first record 100% in Portuguese with this project and I couldn’t be happier. :)

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

I’ve had many phases during this period. At the beginning I was very productive, doing many things that were on hold, writing, and recording new music. I finished productions that were kinda forgotten. But there were also a lot of moments in suspension. I think it has been a lot of back and forth of emotions and moments. I don’t feel it affected that much the work and end results, but it’s very challenging to deal with this new routine. Not being able to go out to socialize and vent out the everyday stress, is having a much bigger impact than I was expecting on me. I especially miss watching and playing live music, that energy of the concert, you know? I dream about it almost every night.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? What was the impact?

I had to postpone the release of my record, that was supposed to happen in March, but I ended up pushing to October. It was a considerable impact, especially since I was planning on playing a lot of concerts afterward, to promote the record and experience these songs being played live. I simply can’t wait to do this again!

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

I got to compose and produce an EP to be released before the album, but I ended up not releasing it. The idea was to push the full album for next year if I had released this EP. But I felt that this time could generate a disconnect between myself and the songs from the record and I preferred to move forward even with the current circumstances.

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to? Links, images, etc…

The first single, called “cabeça ruim”, it’s already out and you can find all the information on my Instagram.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

Therapy has been really important to me. Talking to someone about what we feel is essential, because elaborating these feelings can help us to deal with it. I’ve also been reading much more than usual and rediscovering this self-knowledge and personal evolution that was a bit lost due to my busy life.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

I’m reading the book “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron, and I just finished reading “The War of Art”, by Steven Pressfield. I highly recommend both, even for people that don’t consider themselves an artist. But if you are, it’s definitely a must-read!

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

I’m on almost every social media, but much more active on Instagram. There’s also my YouTube channel, where I post my videos and songs very often.

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» Conta um pouquinho sobre você?

Me chamo Saulo e comecei na música bem pequeno, estudando piano aos 4 anos. Mais tarde me encontrei no Rock, quando comecei a levar mais a sério a carreira artística. Toquei bastante pelo Brasil, compondo, gravando e produzindo música. Em 2017 comecei o projeto saudade, que se tornou uma persona musical minha e me levou a fazer três pequenas tours em NYC e desbravar também um novo lugar artístico, mergulhando em estéticas brasileiras. Agora em Outubro lanço meu primeiro disco 100% em português com este projeto e não poderia estar mais feliz. :)

» Como a quarentena afetou o seu trabalho?

Já tive várias fases neste período. No início estive bem produtivo, tirei várias coisas da gaveta, compus e gravei músicas novas... Terminei produções meio esquecidas. Mas também momentos de total suspensão. Acho que tem sido um grande vai e vem de momentos e de emoções. Não sinto que afetou tanto o trabalho e resultados finais, mas é bem desafiador lidar com essa nova rotina. Não poder sair para socializar e extravazar o stress do dia-a-dia, está tendo um impacto bem maior do que imaginava pra mim. Sinto principalmente falta de assistir/tocar música ao vivo, aquela energia de show, sabe? Sonho quase toda noite com isso.

» Você tinha algum grande plano pra 2020 que você teve que cancelar ou adiar? Qual foi o impacto na sua vida?

Precisei adiar o lançamento do meu album, que seria em Março e acabei passando para Outubro. Foi um impacto considerável, principalmente porque planejava fazer bastante shows depois do lançamento, para divulgar o disco e viver essa parte das músicas sendo tocadas ao vivo. Mal posso esperar para este momento chegar.

» Desde que a quarentena começou, você começou a trabalhar em algum projeto novo, um novo hobby, novas habilidades, etc?

Cheguei a compor e produzir um EP para sair antes do álbum, mas acabei não lançando. A ideia seria deixar o disco full para ano que vem, se fosse lançar o EP. Mas senti que esse espaço de tempo poderia gerar uma desconexão minha com as músicas do album e preferi lançá-lo mesmo nas circunstâncias atuais.

» Se sim, tem algum lugar online onde a gente pode saber mais informações sobre?

O primeiro single do disco, que chama ''cabeça ruim'', já está no ar e todas as infos estão no meu Instagram.

» Algum conselho para as pessoas que possam estar enlouquecendo e procurando por coisas pra fazer/tentar?

Fazer terapia tem sido muito importante pra mim. Conversar com alguém do que a gente sente é essencial, pois elaborar sobre esses sentimentos ajuda a lidar com eles. Tenho lido livros bem mais do que na rotina comum também, e redescobrindo essa maneira de autoconhecimento e evolução pessoal que estava um pouco perdida na minha vida corrida.

» Alguma dica de discos pra ouvir, livros pra ler, filmes/series pra assistir, e coisas do tipo?

Estou lendo um livro chamado "O Caminho do Artista" da Julia Cameron e acabei de ler "A Guerra da Arte" de Steven Pressfield. Indico fortemente ambos, mesmo para quem não se considera artista. Para quem é artista, são must reads!

» Quais são os melhores canais/redes para quem quiser te acompanhar?

Estou em quase todas as redes sociais, mas bem mais ativo no Instagram. Também no YouTube, onde posto meus vídeos e músicas com frequência.

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Marco Catini

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Marco Catini.

(original picture by Marco Catini)

(original picture by Marco Catini)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Marco Catini. I grew up in Switzerland, and in 2001 I moved to New Jersey. I am a freelance photographer, and I love using my craft to tell visual stories.

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

From the beginning, it was clear to me that, without weddings or events happening, I was going to be sitting at home for a long time. On a rational level, I knew that there wasn't much I could do about the pandemic and the lockdown. While being somewhat prepared with the loss of work, the lack of social interaction was hard to get used to.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? what was the impact?

Annually recurring events, like conferences, were canceled. Some of the weddings have been postponed indefinitely, while others have already been rescheduled. A couple of downsized weddings are happening now. My bottom line this year will be adversely affected, but hopefully, next year can somewhat make up for it.

My volunteer work for Special Olympics and for the Valerie Fund has come to a full stop. Both organizations serve a population that may have a compromised immune system, where it's paramount to keep everybody safe.

My wife and I were supposed to celebrate a bunch of birthdays with our family in Italy this year. Obviously that hasn't happened, which is a real bummer. We are now in that weird state of trying to plan our next trip to Europe, without having any idea of when travel will be doable for all of us.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

I learned a new language, became a certified yoga teacher, and built the Colosseum with Lego bricks. If this all sounds far fetched: it is. Despite all my best intentions to learn something new I stayed close to what I always do: photography.

Of all things, I started taking self-portraits. I set up a "studio" at home, consisting of a backdrop and two strobes. This way I was able to take photos whenever the creative mood hit me, without having to plan an outing or trying to schedule a socially distanced session with others.

But it still felt weird to be in front of the camera, so I decided to work on my dismal macro skills as well. What I learned from this is that I dislike doing macro photography to such an extent that I'd rather sit in front of the camera.

I felt that on one hand, I couldn't let myself succumb to dark thoughts and fear, but to completely ignore them would not be helpful either. And on the other hand, I knew that humor and a good laugh would help me through the days. The resulting self-portraits reflect those two conflicting thought processes: some photos are dark, some are silly.

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to? Links, images, etc…

Instagram is probably the best place to see my current work. I have two different accounts: One is @marco.catini.stories, where I focus on people. I used this account to post happy photos from my archives, which were mostly Special Olympics events, and some weddings.

The other account, @marco.catini.photo, is geared towards cityscapes, landscapes, and more. I used this account to post a series "Current Mood", which was mostly dark, but sometimes silly.

Having two different outlets gave me the opportunity to embrace the ambiguity of feelings during the lockdown.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

Seeing other people's posts about their accomplishments early on led me to believe that I, too, had to revamp my website, restructure my fee schedule, learn videography, reorganize my cabinet, paint my living room, and bake bread.

But I didn't have the energy to start anything new, which at first was frustrating. Especially when I saw how busy my wife was, working from home. So I tried to finish some old projects and to start new ones. The drive to do so was extrinsic, and without proper enthusiasm and creativity, everything I started was destined to be an unsuccessful endeavor. After a while of doubting myself, I accepted the fact that I wasn't going to be as productive as others, and found my peace with it.

Long daily walks helped me with creating some structure for my days and made me feel better about my increased intake of cake and cheese. After a few weeks, I finally found intrinsic motivation, and I started my macro experiments and my self-portraits. I also started taking landscape photos during my walks.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: It is ok to not be creative or productive for a while. Sometimes we do need a bit of an external push to start something, but without internal motivation, it will not be satisfying. Enjoy other people's work, read the photo books you bought but never looked at, read some mindless books. You never know what will kick off your creativity. You can search for the spark, but you cannot force it.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

I read a bunch of "Jack Reacher" books, which were a good escape for me. I also perused "The Soul of the Camera" and "The Heart of the Photograph" by David duChemin for insight and reflections. I then learned a lot from "When They Call You a Terrorist...", "How to Be an Antiracist", "White Fragility", and "So You Want to Talk About Race".

Most of my TV watching was limited to reruns of Big Bang Theory, and movies from the Marvel Universe. In hindsight, it seems that I was looking for the comfort of familiar stories and characters.

My music style is an acquired taste. At home, we listened to a lot of electronic and dance music, like Thievery Corporation, Wankelmut, Paul Oakenfold, etc. On my daily walks, I used to blast some metal, like Suffering Hour, SubRosa, Sepultura, Haarp, and Phobiatic.

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

My website is, as you may have guessed by now, still not updated. But I can assure you that I know how I want to change its structure and content once I start working on it. I post daily to Facebook and Instagram, with the latter being my favorite for photos. Here are my social media handles:

www.instagram.com/marco.catini.stories

www.instagram.com/marco.catini.photo

www.facebook.com/MarcoCatiniPhotography

www.catini.net

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

Reconnecting with Photography

Earlier this month something really incredible happened: I finally reconnected with Photography! Not that I haven’t been thinking about Photography during these 6 months of quarantine (should we even be calling this thing quarantine still?). I’ve been actually involved with a few photography-related projects through these months, but for some reason, I was feeling a bit lost about my own personal creative work.

Everything changed when I had to go to the UES for a dentist's appointment and thought I should bring my camera with me just in case. After the appointment, I decided to walk back home instead of taking any kind of transportation, and since I was so close to Central Park, I couldn’t think of any better way to do it that didn’t include walking through the park. I got in by the 72nd street entrance and started to walk with no route in mind, just to see where it would take me. At that point, I was still not feeling particularly inspired by anything on my way enough to turn the camera on and start photographing, until about 5 minutes later when I realized I was walking towards the Bethesda Terrace, one of the most popular areas of the park that also happens to be one of my favorites to photograph. Noticing how empty it was (compared to how things used to be) I knew I had an opportunity there, especially when I put my eyes on the lonely musician seated right in the center of everything. What a perfect opportunity for a symmetrical shot, right?

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This ended up being the first photograph I took intentionally, without any pressure or restrictions, after 6 months of isolation. After that, I kept walking south throughout the park and through Midtown, stopping for some other photo opportunities here and there, and time just flew by. I can’t remember the last time I felt that connected with a creative activity of any sort!

Here are a few more shots I’ve taken since then:

(All photos taken with a Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR)

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Natalie Forteza

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Natalie Forteza.

(original picture by Natalie Forteza)

(original picture by Natalie Forteza)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m a singer/songwriter from NY’s Hudson Valley area, about an hour and a half north of the city. I've been co-writing & playing with my dear friends & band mates Anthony Candullo (bass) & Akie Bermiss (keys/vocals) for about 9 years.

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

Typically Anthony, Akie & I schedule a time to meet up, usually in Anthony’s kitchen primarily to drink coffee aaaand ultimately music comes of it lol, just depends what I have written in my notebook to tackle: developing a raw, new idea, arrange or re-arrange a song we’ve been working on, record a demo, or rehearse for an upcoming gig. The last time we were in the same room together it was early March, just before the shutdown. We met at my house, we were experimenting with recording some acoustic piano for a new song. By the end of our meet, we had mics set up, Akie did some rough takes, we were going to leave everything set up to record the real takes the following week. But the following week never came, stay at home orders came and like everyone else in the world, everything came to a halt.

It’s always hard for me to pump the brakes on a project - I’m just so pumped to work, work out ideas, arrange, record, whatever! And of course, release new music - so it takes me a minute to adjust to a new plan. But in this case, it was much easier to break because it was due to public health, my health, my friends’ health, family health, my neighbors’ health, and so on. So, no recording, no arranging, and very sadly, no coffee together!

I also had/have a part-time retail job that was furloughed for 2 months. Needless to say, I’d have 2 whole months’ worth of precious free time.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? What was the impact?

I had hoped to release an EP this year or at the very least a single or two, but I’m pushing everything back to 2021. Live performances were of course canceled, and it’s really opened ended as to when we’ll perform together, collectively we decided it’s better to play the long-game by being cautious, and hold off playing until we all feel comfortable to do so together — which is so weird to say and adjust to, but honestly eliminating that focus (which requires of a lot of admin & time), made a ton of room for the other areas of music like writing, production and learning (or re-learning) an instrument, even just organizing like cleaning out my computer and Dropbox! The biggest impact of it was the test of being adaptable and resourceful of newfound time.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

I often feel that time is my most precious currency, it’s always hard to find time for everything, and there’s never enough time to really dive into things. So I had time. So I dove into as much as I possibly could while keeping a healthy balance:

  • I tried to read a little every day, even if it was a half-hour.

  • I joined a series of songwriter community classes on some weekends (which I couldn’t previously do due to working weekends), which ultimately led me to take a 4-week block-busting songwriting workshop called “Thinking Outside the Blocks”  coached & directed by Allie Moss & Bess Rogers. I highly recommend this workshop! It was so healthy and useful for me immediately! I learned so much, and much about myself too.

  • I love the production part of recording, and while I know some basic stuff, I’ve wanted to learn more (or just can’t get enough of it!). So I spent some time diving into editing & EQ’ing (thanks to the help of the TOTB comm. classes) getting to know Logic a little better, (the program I use) for when we continue to record.

  • I feel like I’ve been trying to learn an instrument for a hundred years! lol. I started guitar 2 years or so ago, but inconsistently, and I have a lovely upright acoustic piano at home that my mother gave me I’ve little by little have been chipping away at learning. I admit I’m not great at committing to things on a weekly basis, but I loosely tried to learn a song a week either on guitar or piano.

  • Which I tied together with doing live IGTV performances of the songs I learned. The live media thing is still something I’m very awkward at lol, so I forced myself to get more comfortable with it and it also made me accountable to prepare something for the following week—but the only real law that I laid down for myself was that good, bad or ugly I HAD to perform it live! Learning to be comfortable with making mistakes is an important part of being an artist (and student), something I have a hard time with.

  • My husband & I make homemade wine, so we were able to spend some time caring for our homemade wine and researching and daydreaming about being on a European vineyard lol. Whilst drinking the wine of course!

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to?

Facebook and Instagram are primarily where I post. My IGTV is where I posted the videos of songs I (roughly lol) learned on piano or guitar over quarantine.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

This is a tough one — we are all so different and need different things that it’s hard to say but here’s what’s often in my head… “Know thyself”… a useful quote. It’s important to know certain things about yourself, what your triggers are—what can make you negative, what stresses you out, what makes you depressed, what makes you happy, what balances you out, what gets you out of a haze or out of depression, etc. And what are the answers to those questions (sometimes it’s not easy to pinpoint), but knowing them can help you or hurt you—“the news makes me depressed,” “I feel better, I feel happy when I help others,” “I feel balanced when I ate healthy and exercise,” and so on. Self-awareness I think is the first step to learning our pitfalls, and learning to avoid them, grow from them, and maybe change the things that trip us up.

Be flexible. And be patient (with yourself)—adapting even in the smallest of ways I think can be so healthy to ourselves and others around us. Patience goes hand-in-hand with flexibility I think, nothing’s overnight, but it gives us the endurance to keep trying.

What have you always wanted to do/try?! DO IT! Paint, read, cook, write, start a business, start a podcast, hand write letters, make your own clothes, volunteer, it’s endless. Even if you’re bad at it at least you gave it a try! Lol. We all have something waiting to come out of us, if you’re not sure what it is, spend time to discover it.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

Flix - I fell in love and binge-watched The Last Kingdom on Netflix lol! And being a foodie & someone who loves to travel, I've really enjoyed getting into Chef’s Table.

Books - I looooooved reading Willie Nelson’s book, “It’s a Long Story!” It was hard to put down at times! I’m a huge James Bond fan (and was really bummed the newest movie release had to be postponed!), so I’ve been reading the series of books written by Ian Fleming. I’m on book 5 of 14. And I always have a songwriting book around too to dip into.

Music - I listened to a TON of classical music at the beginning of the shutdown. Mostly to keep thoughts and tension down, and always great for concentration. Nils Fram & Max Richter among my favorites to keep things on the level. RY X I’ve been overplaying at this point (if there’s such a thing) lol. And I returned to a childhood favorite, João Gilberto—there’s magic in his voice, it always brings me back to the center.

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter

Album Art Vs. Music Video

Music has always been present in my life ever since I can remember: from listening to vinyl (with music made for kids) as a child, to buying my first CD with my own money, to attending hundreds of concerts, to playing drums in my late teens, to finally making a career out of photographing musicians performing live. Adding that to my passion for movies and it’s easy to understand why Music Videos were destined to become another obsession of mine early on.

In this post, I want to explore something that is not always given that much attention, which is when music videos establish some sort of dialogue with the album art of the record that specific song came from. Sometimes is very literal, but sometimes it can be a bit more subjective too. Here are 10 examples:

album: James Blake - James Blake / music video: The Wihelm Scream

1 - James Blake - James Blake.jpg

album: Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit / music video: Don't Stop The Music

2 - Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit.jpg

album: Céu - Vagarosa / music video: Grains de Beaute

album: Black Drawing Chalks - Life is A Big Holiday For Us / music video: My Favorite Way

album: Korn - Follow the Leader / music video: Freak on a Leash

album: Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion / music video: Lollipop

album: Ben L’Oncle Soul - Ben L’Oncle Soul / music video: Soulman

album: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream / music video: California Gurls

album: Paramore - Riot / music video: Misery Business

album: White Rabbits - It's Frightening / music video: Percussion Gun

Let me know if you’d like to see more, as I’m considering a part 2 or maybe even turning this into a series in the future!

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Paula Lobo

(🇧🇷 Este texto está disponível na versão original PT/BR na segunda metade do post)

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Paula Lobo.

(original picture by Felipe Ferreira)

(original picture by Felipe Ferreira)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Paula Lobo and I’m an NYC-based Photographer specialized in performing arts and TV productions. Most of my work is photographing dance performances, theater, concerts, and events in different venues around the city. I frequently photograph TV productions for ABC/Disney, artistic events at the MET museum, and fashion shows during NYFW.

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

All my work got canceled since March 12th, and there’s still no prediction for when the productions will be back. It’s really sad and tragic for all the artists and people involved with the productions.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? What was the impact in your life?

My plan for this year was to photograph a lot! I had lots of jobs booked for 2020. And now, it’s been the year that I created and produced less.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

Not really, but I’m starting to look for a video editing course.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

For most people, I think the interesting thing is to learn to deal with all this loss. There’s no need to learn a thousand different things during the quarantine. Maybe the best thing is to look at yourself, have a healthier relationship with time, lower the anxiety. No rush to try and fill the void.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

To listen: Leon Bridges;

To read: Sintomas Mórbidos, by Sabrina Fernandes;

A movie: Call Me By Your Name.

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

My Instagram!

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» Conta um pouquinho sobre você?

Meu nome é Paula Lobo, sou uma fotógrafa de "live arts” e produções de TV, localizada em Nova York. Na maior parte do tempo fotografo performances de dança, teatro, concertos, e eventos em teatros por toda a cidade. Frequentemente fotografo produções de TV para o canal ABC/Disney, eventos artísticos no Metropolitan Museum e eventos de moda durante a NYFW.

» Como a quarentena afetou o seu trabalho?

Todos os meus trabalhos foram cancelados desde o dia 12 de Março. E ainda não há nenhuma previsão de quando as produções vão poder retornar. Bem triste e trágico para todos os artistas e para todos os profissionais envolvidos nas produções.

» Você tinha algum grande plano pra 2020 que você teve que cancelar ou adiar? Qual foi o impacto na sua vida?

Meu plano para esse ano era fotografar muito! Eu tinha muitos trabalhos marcados pra 2020. E, agora, está sendo o ano que menos criei e produzi.

» Desde que a quarentena começou, você começou a trabalhar em algum projeto novo, um novo hobby, novas habilidades, etc?

Não. Mas estou começando a procurar um curso de edição de vídeo.

» Algum conselho para as pessoas que possam estar enlouquecendo e procurando por coisas pra fazer/tentar?

Para a maior parte das pessoas, acho que o interessante é aprender exatamente a lidar com essa falta. Não é preciso aprender mil coisas numa quarentena. Talvez o interessante seja olhar para si, ter uma relação mais saudável com o tempo, diminuir a ansiedade. Sem correria para preencher os vazios.

» Alguma dica de discos pra ouvir, livros pra ler, filmes/series pra assistir, e coisas do tipo?

Ouvir: Leon Bridges.

Ler: Sintomas Mórbidos, da Sabrina Fernandes.

Filme: Call Me by Your Name.

» Quais são os melhores canais/redes para quem quiser te acompanhar?

Meu Instagram!

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

San Francisco with the Fujifilm X-T2

One year ago I went to San Francisco for the first time (disregarding the one time I was in the city for just one afternoon) and coincidentally I’ve been thinking a lot about that trip, maybe because we’re living in a time where traveling seems such a distant concept right now... I had a blast walking around and exploring the city, and realized I haven’t really shared that many pictures from it. So here we go, hope you enjoy it!

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(All photos taken with a Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR)

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Mauricio Zottarelli

(🇧🇷 Este texto está disponível na versão PT/BR na segunda metade do post)

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Mauricio Zottarelli.

(original picture by Christine Vaindirlis)

(original picture by Christine Vaindirlis)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I have been a drummer/professional musician for 30 years. Nowadays I live in New York City, but I am originally from Brazil. Since my arrival in the USA in 1999, when I received a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, I had many opportunities to play and study with fantastic artists and some of my drum heroes. Since then I have been playing, touring, practicing, and teaching intensively. I recently was nominated to a Grammy as a member of the group/album of the great Eddie Daniels. (Our follow up album just came out in August 2020 on Resonance records). In 2012 the record "The Art of Samba Jazz" from legendary Brazilian pianist Dom Salvador received the Brazilian Music Awards (the most important event of its kind in the country) and I am honored to have played drums on it, and also to have assisted Salvador on most aspects of the production. I am extremely grateful and honored to have worked with very important artists in different fields/styles, and many of them are idols of mine: Hiromi, Eliane Elias, Toquinho, Prasanna, Eddie Daniels, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Esperanza Spalding, Keiko Matsui, Richard Bona, Paquito D’Rivera, Richard Galliano, Cristina Pato, Chuck Loeb, Romero Lubambo, Chico Pinheiro, Cláudio Roditi, Eldar Djangirov, Ivan Lins, Carmen Souza, Rosa Passos, Dom Salvador, Cidinho Teixeira, Toninho Horta, and many others. One of my favorite things to do is to work in the studio - I have played on more than 100 albums so far. Besides my work as a "sideman", I have 2 albums under my own name, where I wear many hats: producer, arranger, composer, and drummer: 7 LIVES (2009) and UPSIDE DOWN LOOKING UP (2017). Some other collaborations of mine include DIG TRIO (2003) with guitarist Gustavo Assis Brasil; MOZIK (2011) with pianist Gilson Schachnik; and GLASSES, NO GLASSES (2014) with bassist Amanda Ruzza. In 2018 I ended up as a finalist in the 23rd USA Songwriting Competition in two different categories, with songs from my latest album.

I also have worked extensively as a teacher and educator, and I've had the privilege of performing clinics, workshops and also working as a teacher in several music education programs in South America, the USA, and Europe. You can find out more information about my career, my music, and projects by visiting my website.

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

It has been a very difficult time for all performing artists. All our activities came to a pause: no touring, no playing concerts/shows, no traveling, etc. So for the most part I have been at home planning activities for the future, and taking some time to learn/experiment with important skills I need to improve - recording at home, mixing, composing more, video editing... I ended up not having access to my instrument (drums) until last week, so I stayed around 5 months without really playing, I had to invent ways to keep practicing, and maintaining my hand technique and musical mind active. After the first 40 days or so, it also became obvious that I needed to watch what I ate and I tried to keep exercising at home, adapting from my exercise routine at the gym. Easy to talk about, but hard to do!

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? what was the impact?

I was planning on working on a series of original songs, produce them, record everybody, and film it all, but I got sidetracked many times during the quarantine. Other ideas came along, other projects, and other collaborations. So it has been actually quite busy and interesting, but I had to let go of some of my plans from earlier in the year. I guess it will all get done, but not as I planned initially. I also had several touring and recording projects that got canceled/postponed, like most of us. Once things get a bit more under control, I am positive that these will happen again.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

Yes, as I mentioned before, since I was more at home and had more time, I started working on some skills that we all need for producing materials and online content. So I have been creating more videos for my youtube channel (and learning more about video editing), including a series called "DRUMMIN'VENTIONS". These are videos based on an improvised drum solo that I bring home and write some music later to match what I played on the drumkit. In fact, in 2016 I posted my first video for this series, and you did the filming, Leo!!

I had the opportunity to collaborate with several artists doing "quarantine recording sessions", which consist of everybody recording audio/video from their homes. I didn't have access to my drums, but I had my Cajon and some hand percussion. I had a blast doing many songs for many artists friends.

I have been practicing piano a bit, and writing some new music to try to move my new original music project along... so hopefully, some new music with my group will come out soon too.

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to?

Yes! My website has drum play-along versions from some of the DRUMMIN'VENTIONS video series, so drummers can have fun interpreting the songs their own way. The full series is on my youtube channel. I also recently finished editing the videos from my CD Release concert from 2018 from Blue Note in NYC, so you can watch the whole show there. I'm constantly posting new materials on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook, so please follow me if you'd like more info and if you want to check out some of the above-mentioned projects/recordings.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

It's been very challenging to keep ourselves calm and sane... I think that doing things we like to do and trying to keep a small sense of normalcy in our lives can be helpful. In the beginning, I think that most of us created a list (physical or in our minds) of things we needed to accomplish while quarantined.... most of us didn't include sleep, eat right, exercise, meditate, read, relax, go for walks, etc, etc... so pretty quickly we burned out! (I know I have) So it's important to listen to our bodies, and be gentle with ourselves and our priorities... It's great to have time to get some stuff done, but since we are all under a lot of stress right now with the pandemic, our economical and financial insecurity, and we are all confused about how all the different industries and the economy will move on from now, we have to take some time and enjoy the small things, while we learn about the future. Keep calm, and stay healthy.... most importantly. We can't do anything if we are not healthy. Video call friends and family often and keep in touch with your loved ones.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

For our Portuguese speakers, I recommend Valter Hugo Mãe, he's incredible. I am not sure how much the translations to other languages will capture the beauty and virtuosity from his Portuguese originals. Brilliant writer. I read "O Apocalipse dos Trabalhadores" e "o Filho de Mil Homens". Very dense, rich characters, and wonderful prose.

I read Brené Brown's "I Thought It Was Me (But It Isn't)" and enjoyed it a lot. Her Netflix special is brilliant as well.

As for music, I recommend Bill Bruford's Earthworks from circa 1999-2004, one of my favorite modern jazz groups. Bill's drumming is fantastic, and the writing and playing on these albums are top-notch. I got to see this group live and it had a big impact on me. Some of the albums from this 5 year period are: A Part, and Yet Apart (1999), The Sound of Surprise (2001), Footloose and Fancy-free (live, 2002)

I also revisited a lot of Rush's albums during this quarantine period, after the sad passing of their drummer Neil Peart earlier this year. I am a huge fan, and Neil's playing and overall attitude towards life and music also had a big impact on me.

Haven't seen much TV apart from the News and NBA.... so I am not sure what the new cool movies/series are. I'll take some recommendations!

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

My Instagram, Youtube channel, Facebook, and my website!

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» Conta um pouquinho sobre você?

Sou baterista/músico profissional há 30 anos. Sou Brasileiro mas moro atualmente em Nova York. Desde que cheguei nos Estados Unidos em 1999, quando ganhei uma bolsa de estudos na Berklee College of Music, tive muitas oportunidades de tocar e estudar com artistas fantásticos e alguns dos meus heróis da bateria. Desde então eu tenho tocado, praticado, ensinado e saído em turnê intensamente. Recentemente fui indicado a um Grammy como membro de um grupo/disco do grande Eddie Daniels (nosso disco seguinte acabou de sair em Agosto de 2020 pela Resonance Records). Em 2012 o disco “The Art of Samba Jazz”, do lendário pianista Brasileiro Dom Salvador recebeu o Prêmio da Música Brasileira (o evento mais importante do tipo no país) e me sinto honrado por ter tocado bateria nele, e também por ter colaborado com Salvador em diversos aspectos da produção. Sou extremamente grato por e honrado por ter trabalhado com artistas muito importantes em diferentes áreas e estilos, muitos deles ídolos meus: Hiromi, Eliane Elias, Toquinho, Prasanna, Eddie Daniels, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Esperanza Spalding, Keiko Matsui, Richard Bona, Paquito D’Rivera, Richard Galliano, Cristina Pato, Chuck Loeb, Romero Lubambo, Chico Pinheiro, Cláudio Roditi, Eldar Djangirov, Ivan Lins, Carmen Souza, Rosa Passos, Dom Salvador, Cidinho Teixeira, Toninho Horta e muitos outros. Uma das minhas coisas preferias é trabalhar no estúdio - eu toquei em mais de 100 discos até hoje. Além do meu trabalho como músico de apoio, tenho também 2 discos com o meu nome, onde eu cuidei também da produção, arranjos, composição e bateria: 7 Lives (2009) e Upside Down Looking Up (2017). Algumas das minhas colaborações incluem: DIG TRIO (2003) com o guitarrista Gustavo Assis Brasil; MOZIK (2011) com o pianista Gilson Schachnik; e GLASSES, NO GLASSES (2014) com a baixista Amanda Ruzza. Em 2018 acabei sendo finalista no 23º USA Songwriting Competition em duas categorias diferentes, com músicas do meu disco mais recente.

Também trabalhei extensivamente como professor e educador, e tive o privilegio de tocar em clínicas, workshops e também de trabalhar como professor em diversos programas de educação musical na América do Sul, Estados Unidos e Europa. Pra saber mais informações sobre a minha carreira, musica e projetos, visite meu site.

» Como a quarentena afetou o seu trabalho?

Tem sido tempos bem difíceis para todos os artistas. Todas as nossas atividades entraram em pausa: sem turnês, sem shows ao vivo, sem viagens, etc. Então na maior parte do tempo tenho estado em casa planejando atividades pro futuro, e aproveitando o tempo pra aprender/experimentar com habilidades importante que eu preciso aprimorar: gravar em casa, mixar, compor mais, editar videos... Acabei não tendo acesso ao meu instrumento (a bateria) até a semana passada, então eu acabei ficando por volta de 5 meses sem propriamente tocar, tive que inventar maneiras de continuar praticando e mantendo minha técnica e mente musical ativa. Após os primeiros 40 dias mais ou menos, ficou claro também que eu precisava prestar atenção ao que eu estava comendo e eu tentei continuar me exercitando em casa, adaptando a minha rotina da academia. Fácil dizer, mas difícil de fazer!

» Você tinha algum grande plano pra 2020 que você teve que cancelar ou adiar? Qual foi o impacto na sua vida?

Estava planejando trabalhar em uma série de músicas originais, produzir, gravar todo mundo e filmar tudo, mas acabei me distraindo muitas vezes durante a quarentena. Outras ideias apareceram, outros projetos e outras colaborações. Então na verdade tenho estado bastante ocupado e tem sido interessante, mas tive que abrir mão de alguns dos meus planos do começo do ano. Acho que tudo acabará sendo feito, mas não como planejei inicialmente. Também tinha várias turnês e projetos de gravação que acabaram sendo cancelados ou adiados, como aconteceu com todos nós. Assim que as coisas estiverem um pouco mais sob controle, acredito que eles acontecerão novamente.

» Desde que a quarentena começou, você começou a trabalhar em algum projeto novo, um novo hobby, novas habilidades, etc?

Sim! Como mencionei antes, já que e estava mais em casa e com mais tempo, comecei a trabalhar em habilidades que todos nós precisamos pra produzir materiais e conteúdos online. Então tenho criado mais videos pro meu canal no YouTube (e aprendido mais sobre edição de video) incluindo uma série chamada “DRUMMIN’VENTIONS”. São videos baseados num solo improvisado de bateria que eu trago pra casa, e escrevo a música depois pra encaixar com o que eu toquei no instrumento. Aliás, em 2016 eu postei o meu primeiro vídeo dessa série, e foi você quem filmou, Leo!!

Tive a oportunidade de colaborar com diversos artistas fazendo “quarantine recording sessions” (sessões de gravação da quarentena), que consiste em todos gravando áudio e video de suas casas. Eu não tinha acesso à minha bateria, mas eu tinha meu cajon e alguns instrumentos de percussão. Me diverti muito gravando muitas músicas pra muitos amigos. Tenho praticado um pouco de piano, e escrevendo algumas músicas novas pra tentar avançar com meu novo projeto de música original... então espero que algumas músicas novas com meu grupo sairão logo.

» Se sim, tem algum lugar online onde a gente pode saber mais informações sobre?

Sim! Meu site tem versões de bateria  “play-along” de alguns dos videos da série “DRUMMIN’VENTIONS", para que os bateristas se divirtam interpretando as músicas de seus próprios jeitos. A série completa está no meu canal do YouTube. Recentemente eu também terminei de editar os vídeos do show de lançamento do meu disco em 2018 no Blue Note, em Nova York, então você consegue assistir o show inteiro lá. Estou constantemente postando materiais novos no meu canal do YouTube, Instagram e Facebook, então me siga por lá se quiser dar uma olhada em alguns dos projetos citados acima.

» Algum conselho para as pessoas que possam estar enlouquecendo e procurando por coisas pra fazer/tentar?

Tem sido bastante desafiador nos manter sãos e calmos... Acho que fazer coisas que gostamos, tentando manter um pequeno senso de normalidade em nossas vidas pode ajudar. No começo, acho que muitos de nós criamos uma lista (física ou em nossas mentes) de coisas que precisávamos fazer enquanto estivéssemos em quarentena. Muitos de nós não incluímos dormir, nos alimentar direito, se exercitar, meditar, relaxar, sair pra caminhar, etc, então rapidamente nos esgotamos (aconteceu comigo!). Então é importante escutar o nosso corpo e ser gentil com nós mesmos e nossas prioridades. É ótimo ter esse tempo pra fazer as coisas, mas já que estamos todos sob muito stress nesse momento por conta da pandemia, com insegurança econômica e financeira, e estamos todos confusos sobre como as indústrias e a economia vão caminhar daqui pra frente, nós temos que aproveitar um pouco do tempo e apreciar as pequenas coisas, enquanto vamos aprendendo sobre o futuro. Mantenha a calma e fique saudável, o mais importante nesse momento. Nós não conseguimos fazer nada se não estivermos saudáveis. Faça ligações de video com amigos e familia o tempo todo, e mantenha contato com as pessoas que ama.

» Alguma dica de discos pra ouvir, livros pra ler, filmes/series pra assistir, e coisas do tipo?

Para os que falam português, recomento o autor Valter Hugo Mãe, ele é incrível. Não sei o quão bem as traduções para outras línguas conseguem capturar a beleza e virtuosidade dos seus originais em português. Eu li “O Apocalipse dos Trabalhadores” e “O Filho de Mil Homens”. Escritor brilhante! Eu li “I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)” da Brené Brown e gostei muito. O especial dela na Netflix também é brilhante.

Sobre música, recomendo os discos do Bill Brudford’s Earthworks entre 1999 e 2004, um dos meus grupos preferidos de jazz contemporâneo. A bateria é fantástica, e a composição e perfomance nesses discos são top de linha. Consegui ver esse grupo ao vivo e teve um impacto enorme em mim. Alguns dos discos desse período são: A Part, and Yet Apart (1999), The Sound of Surprise (2001), Footloose and Fancy-free (live, 2002).

Também revisitei vários discos do Rush durante essa quarentena, após o triste falecimento do baterista Neil Peart no começo desse ano. Sou um grande fã, e o estilo de tocar do Neil e sua atitude perante a vida e a música também tiveram um grande impacto em mim.

Não tenho assistido muita TV tirando notícias e a NBA, então não sei quais são as séries e filmes do momento. Aceito recomendações!

» Quais são os melhores canais/redes para quem quiser te acompanhar?

Meu Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, e meu website!

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

Why I deleted my 50K Instagram Account

Instagram was one of the first apps that I downloaded when I bought my first iPhone, 8 or 9 years ago.

brooklynbridge.jpg

I knew about the platform by seeing some friends re-posting their pictures on Facebook and being intrigued by the retro look of the filters and frames that you were allowed to add before posting a photo on the app. It was one of those things that you know you’ll enjoy it even before putting your hands on it. I was working with video editing and motion graphics but was becoming more and more interested in Photography.

As I was expecting, the minute I started using Instagram was love at first sight, and for many many years was by far my favorite social media of all. Back then it was a very different time and you were only allowed to post pictures that you took with the smartphone you had in your hands, and that was definitely part of the fun. All of a sudden everybody had a “camera” in their hands and the device limitations really forced people to be more creative with their content. For me (and for a lot of other people I know) that experience was one of the big pushes I was waiting for to start paying more attention to Photography in general and later start a career as a Photographer from the scratch.

The rest is history, as people say, and by now (in 2020) everybody knows what Instagram is and what it has become. I was never the most popular on the platform, but at some point I had accumulated ~50k followers, which sounds very impressive for a lot of people (spoiler alert: it is not). The majority of my followers came from the early days of the network when Instagram itself used to select a few people to become “suggested users” for a couple of weeks here and there, and that would make new users discover you as soon as they created an account. That generated a big boom on the numbers, of course, but at the same time not all of those people were genuinely interested in your content, and most of them didn’t even become super active users.

Fast forward to the present, and Instagram hasn’t brought me any joy for a long time, and for a couple of years, I thought about a lot of different strategies to prevent me from deleting my account altogether. And then at the end of July, I decided to do what crossed my mind so many times: I started a new journey!

This was the caption I wrote with the inaugural post:

Hello friend,

It’s day 136 of isolation and, yesterday, I decided to do something that was in my mind for a really long time: I deleted my original Instagram account, the one that I had for almost a decade, where I once accumulated 50k followers and posted a couple of thousand pictures.

About a little over a month, when I got really close to doing it, I decided that the best thing to do was to just delete the app and take a big break from it. That was definitely a smart decision but yesterday, when I logged back into my account, I realized that absolutely nothing had changed and all the same issues were still bothering me. The pressure of finding an incredible photo to post, a number of followers that didn’t say anything about myself or my work, and the constant hustle that the platform has turned into.

Then I realized that the only way to go back to enjoy this place the way I used to when I first joined, was to delete who I was trying to be and just starting all over again. I thought about simply creating (another) new profile, but I knew the main one was always going to be on the back of my mind, and I definitely didn’t want that to happen.

So this is my new home. From now on it will be about who I am, what I’m interested in at the moment, without trying to please anyone, or anything. Without chasing any trends, numbers, illusions. Without any rules to follow.

This is my new journey.

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Rogéria Vianna

(🇧🇷 Este texto está disponível na versão original PT/BR na segunda metade do post)

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Rogéria Vianna.

(original picture by André Cunha)

(original picture by André Cunha)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Rogéria Vianna and I live in NYC since 2013. I’m a TV producer for shows like Manhattan Connection and Globo Notícia Américas. Besides that, I’m a partner in two companies: Duo Productions (in NYC) and Parla Marketing Digital (in Brasil). I’m also the author of the blog Vem Pra NY (or @vemprany on Instagram) where I give tips from the Big Apple that you can’t miss!

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

With the huge amount of activities I do, I didn’t get bored. I kept working normally from home, except for external videos shoots that we couldn’t do in the most critical months of the pandemic.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? what was the impact?

Since the beginning of the year, I had plans for opening these two companies that I am a partner. In the beginning, the pandemic paralyzed us, but in the end, we were able to visualize opportunities in both cases, so we kept going and opened it, going against the crisis. Another big challenge was to keep my Instagram active. Since I give tips about New York City, I couldn’t recommend restaurants, stores, or anything like that anymore. I had to change my approach a little bit and, besides the difficulties, I was able to go through this, keeping my daily posting rhythm. The biggest impact I had in this period was on my personal life: I lost my father to Covid-19.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

I’ve been dedicating myself to studying a lot of the subjects related to my new businesses, and I’m finally having time to dedicate myself to cooking, which was never my strongest suit.

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to?

I end up trying recipes that I randomly see in the New York Times and on Instagram, like at @raizacostaofficial.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

I’m a super active person and I confess that I didn’t think I would be able to survive the quarantine. In the first week, I got stuck and couldn’t do anything productive besides my obligations. After a while, I began to respect my own rhythm and look for other activities to spend my time in a better way. I started to do things I didn’t have room in my schedule to do before: meditating, reading a good book, watching movies, talking to friends, organizing my home. The best advice I can give is: don’t be too hard on yourself. If one day you wake up blue, wanting to spend the whole day laying down watching TV, it’s ok! The important thing is not to become your own enemy.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

I’ve been reading a lot and listening to Brené Brow’s podcasts, a big motivator for times like these. To watch, I really liked Self Made, Non-Orthodox, The Platform, The Great, and Tiger King.

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

The place I’m most active is on my Instagram, where I’ve been informing about the situation in NYC and also been doing a series of lives with different professionals.

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» Conta um pouquinho sobre você?

Meu nome é Rogéria Vianna e moro em Nova York desde 2013. Sou produtora de TV, produzindo os programas Manhattan Connection e Globo Notícia Américas, da Globo Internacional. Além disso, sou sócia de duas empresas: a produtora Duo Productions (em Nova York) e a Parla Marketing Digital (no Brasil). Também sou autora do blog Vem pra NY (@vemprany no Instagram) onde dou dicas imperdíveis da Big Apple. Ufa!

» Como a quarentena afetou o seu trabalho?

Com o tanto de atividades que exerço, não teve tédio. Continuei trabalhando quase normalmente de casa, exceto por filmagens externas que não conseguimos fazer nos meses mais críticos da pandemia.

» Você tinha algum grande plano pra 2020 que você teve que cancelar ou adiar? Qual foi o impacto na sua vida?

Desde o início do ano, tinha planos de abrir as duas empresas das quais sou sócia. A princípio, a pandemia nos paralisou, mas no fim das contas, conseguimos visualizar oportunidades em ambos os casos, então seguimos em frente e abrimos, remando contra a maré da crise. Outro desafio foi manter meu Instagram ativo. Como dou dicas de Nova York, não poderia mais indicar restaurantes, lojas, nada disso. Precisei mudar um pouco minha abordagem e, apesar da dificuldade, consegui passar por esse período mantendo o meu ritmo de postagens diárias. O maior impacto que sofri nesse período foi na minha vida pessoal: perdi meu pai, vítima de Covid.

» Desde que a quarentena começou, você começou a trabalhar em algum projeto novo, um novo hobby, novas habilidades, etc?

Tenho me dedicado a estudar bastante assuntos relacionados às minhas novas empreitadas e finalmente estou tendo tempo de me dedicar mais à culinária, que nunca foi meu forte.

» Se sim, tem algum lugar online onde a gente pode saber mais informações sobre?

Eu acabo fazendo receitas que vejo aleatoriamente no New York Times e no Instagram, como no perfil da @raizacostaofficial.

» Algum conselho para as pessoas que possam estar enlouquecendo e procurando por coisas pra fazer/tentar?

Eu sou uma pessoa muito ativa e confesso que achei que não seria capaz de sobreviver à quarentena. Na primeira semana, paralisei e não consegui fazer nada produtivo além das minhas obrigações. Depois, fui respeitando meu próprio ritmo e procurando atividades para aproveitar bem meu tempo. Passei a fazer coisas para as quais não tinha espaço na agenda: meditar, ler um bom livro, assistir filmes, falar com amigos que estavam afastados, organizar minha casa. O melhor conselho que posso dar é: não se cobre. Se um dia acordar desanimado e quiser passar o dia deitado vendo TV, tudo bem. O importante é não se tornar seu próprio algoz.

» Alguma dica de discos pra ouvir, livros pra ler, filmes/series pra assistir, e coisas do tipo?

Tenho lido muito e ouvidos os podcasts da Brené Brown, motivadora para momentos como esses. Para assistir, gostei muito de Self Made, Non-Orthodox, The Platform, The Great e Tiger King.

» Quais são os melhores canais/redes para quem quiser te acompanhar?

O lugar onde sou mais ativa é no meu perfil do Vem pra NY no Instagram, onde estou informando sobre a situação de Nova York e tenho feito uma série de lives com profissionais de diversos segmentos:

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

A Quick Guide to Long-Exposure Photography

The Long Exposure is a very popular Photographic technique vastly explored especially by Landscape and Architectural Photographers, but that can be utilized in many other situations as well. By definition, “a long-exposure (or slow-shutter photography) involves using long-duration shutter speed to sharply capture the stationary elements of images while blurring, smearing, or obscuring the moving elements. Long-exposure photography captures one element that conventional photography does not: an extended period of time.”

Basic Camera Settings:

On a Long Exposure photograph, the most important camera setting is your shutter speed, and that is the first thing you should worry about. There’s not an exact number that characterizes a “long exposure”, so that number will change accordingly with the scene you’re photographing and the results you are trying to achieve. If you want to do a panning holding the camera with your hands, 1/15th may do it, but if you are photographing a landscape and want the clouds to blur out, you will want to put the camera on a tripod and expect to let it open for a few seconds, at least. So once you figure out the shutter speed, the other two elements (aperture and ISO) will adapt accordingly. You will probably want to keep your ISO as low as possible, to avoid noise, and the aperture will vary depending on the lens you are using and which part of the scene you want in focus. But remember that every time you change one element, you must adjust the other two to keep your exposure balanced. In order to have full control of all the elements individually, you will want to be shooting in manual mode.

Here’s an image that perfectly illustrates how different shutter speeds can affect the same subject or scene:

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The Classic Look:

The sunset (and beyond) is probably the preferred time of the day for Photographers attempting to do long exposures, the reason I like to call this “The Classic Look”. That’s when you normally see the clouds moving, the water looking very silky, and sometimes a light trail here and there:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (13s / f 22 / ISO 100)

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (60s / f 22 / ISO 100)

Here is another example captured at night, but notice how much faster the shutter speed was, compared to the other images. That’s because bridges are structures that move a lot without us realizing, so a much longer exposure would end up being shaky. In this case, there’s nothing moving on the images, but a longer exposure helped me to capture more light keeping the ISO pretty low and avoiding noise in the photograph:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (1s / f4 / ISO 200)

© Leonardo Mascaro • Canon 6D + Canon 16/35mm (3.2s / f 5.6 / ISO 100)

Zooming In and Out:

For this series, I used the technique of zooming the lens in or out, while the shutter remains open, but in this case, I was holding the camera with my hands and had a much faster shutter speed. Because I couldn’t use a much longer shutter speed, I had to use a wider aperture and much higher ISO, to keep the exposure balanced:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (1/30 / f 2.8 / ISO 800)

Here are two very different shots taken with the same camera settings from the exact same spot. I always like to show these two together as an example of how the exact same scene, with the exact same camera settings, can offer you such diverse results. It’s all a matter of being creative and trying different things:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 (10s / f 16 / ISO 200)

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 (10s / f 16 / ISO 200)

Double Exposures:

By now you probably know how much I love Double Exposures, right? So, of course, I’ll take the opportunity to use it anywhere I can. Here are two examples combining Long Exposures with Double Exposures, in the first case blurring the second shot, and in the second image zooming out during the second shot:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Canon 6D + Canon EF 70-200 2.8 (30s / f 22 / ISO 100)

© Leonardo Mascaro • Canon 6D + Canon 16-35mm (1s / f 22 / ISO 100)

Light Painting:

This is my first and only attempt of doing “light painting”, which consists of using handheld lights to paint and/or draw in a scene while the shutter of a camera is left open during a long exposure. Back then I didn’t have a remote control or an app on my phone to control the settings, so the longest I could keep my shutter open was 1 second, which was enough to capture some of the action in a decent way.

© Leonardo Mascaro • (1s / f 4.5 / ISO 100)

Infra-Red:

These next two shots were taken using an effect called Infrared, which it’s basically the ability of your camera to see light in a much longer range than our eyes can see. This can be obtained by using infrared film, infrared filters (attached to digital cameras), or by converting the sensor of a camera to be always seeing light like this. These were taken using an infrared filter in front of the lens, and because the filter cuts all the usual lighting, you are forced to do very long exposures to be able to capture enough lighting passing through the sensor. The final results are timeless black and white images, or the more dreamy ones, sometimes referred to as “false-color”:

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (60s / f 16 / ISO 400) with an infrared filter.

© Leonardo Mascaro • Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mm (30s / f 11 / ISO 200) with an infrared filter.

You can see more examples of Infra-Red Photography by clicking here.

Photography Gear:

So here’s the basic gear that you’ll need to get started with Long Exposures:

  • A Camera that allows you to control the settings manually. This is the camera that I currently shoot with.

  • A Tripod, to keep your camera steady. You want every still object to remain still, and all the moving parts to be captured moving. This is the tripod that I currently use. Not the strongest or tallest one, but it gets very compact and light, perfect to carry around and bring with you when traveling. Make sure you get a tripod that will properly hold the weight of your camera + lens combo.

  • A Remote Control / a remote trigger / or even an app on your phone that can control your camera. Anything that you can use to avoid you having to press the shutter because even that can cause the camera to shake and ruin your picture. If you don’t have access to a remote or an app on your phone, you should at least use the timer on your camera to delay the shutter to go off a few seconds after you press the button.

  • A Neutral Density filter, known as “ND" - these are used to reduce the amount of light that gets to the camera, allowing you to do long exposures in bright sunny days. Think of it as putting sunglasses in front of your lens.

  • An Infra-Red filter, if you plan to experiment with that, this is what I use. Make sure to double-check the size of your lens before buying.

  • And a lot of Patience! Just imagine that you may be spending a couple of hours on the same spot, trying to nail the shot by repeating various long exposures until you get the perfect one.

Final Thoughts & Inspiration:

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, a hobbyist or a professional, Long Exposures are still a great way to practice Photography and learn (even) more about your camera, as it constantly makes you think about all the different settings and forces you to slow down and think about all the aspects of your image. To finish things off, here are a few of the Photographers that inspire me every time I think about Long Exposures:

  • Bryan Minear, who has a very classic look but with GORGEOUS color processing, which I’m very attracted to.

  • Clive Carpenter, proving that you don’t always need a breathtaking landscape or intriguing architecture to create interesting long exposures.

  • Susan Magnano, who does incredible light paining on landscapes and urban environment;

  • Marc Koegel, with a dramatic black and white look, achieved a lot by very intense post-production;

  • And last but definitely not least, Reuben Wu, who does an extraordinary job mixing up Landscapes with Light Painting.

Quarantine Diaries: a conversation with Marcelo Perdido

(🇧🇷 Este texto está disponível na versão original PT/BR na segunda metade do post)

This is a series of conversations to explore how other artists and creatives are spending their time and energy during the quarantine. In today's episode: Marcelo Perdido.

(original picture by Ana Alexandrino)

(original picture by Ana Alexandrino)

» Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I'm Marcelo Perdido and I consider myself a "MusicVideoMaker" from Brazil. I consider my art a "Stranger Pop", mixing rock, frame-by-frame animation, and video. I have 5 albums released and a series of music videos I've made on YouTube.

» How did the quarantine affect your work?

At first, everything stopped, here in Brazil the whole thing wasn't well managed, for us artists all was left was the "Lives" to fight for the audience and try to monetize something, but people are out of resources, it's a bad time.

» Did you have any big plans for 2020 that you had to cancel or postpone it? What was the impact?

I've made a promise that I would play 20 concerts in 2020, it was the biggest plan of my career. I just released a new record last June and have no plans to play concerts for a while.

» Since quarantine started, did you start any new projects, pick up any new hobbies, develop new abilities, etc?

I've studied digital collage in After Effects to make a video for a song in the new album, and I also started a series of talks with other artists I wanted to know better, it's called "Forçando Amizade" (Forcing Friendships) and it looks like a little tv show from the '90s.

» If so, is there anywhere online we can see what you've been up to?

You can watch the music video clicking here and the talk show clicking here.

» Any advice for people who are losing their minds and looking for new things to do/try?

We've lost the illusion that we could control or plan our near future, but the thing is that it was possible but never assured, we've always danced according to the music. I've been trying to plant seeds that can bring me something for after this is over, like studying new video techniques, but also already putting in action right now, because the future is something that doesn't exist yet.

» Any tips on music to listen, books to read, film/tv shows to watch, anything like that?

The tv show Kidding, from Michel Gondry with Jim Carrey. I've just watched it during quarantine and fell in love. It may be the best show I've seen in years!; I also recommend listening to my new record "Não tô aqui pra te influenciar", short songs about people missing other people; Also, this After Effects course I did at Domestika, an online platform I recently found out and have enjoyed!

» What are the best channels/social media for people to be following you?

My website is very thorough and you can also follow me on Instagram.

🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷

» Conta um pouquinho sobre você?

Sou Marcelo Perdido e me considero um MusicVideoMaker do Brasil. Considero minha arte um POP ESTRANHO, misturando rock animação frame-a-frame e vídeo. Tenho 5 discos lançados e uma série de clipes que eu mesmo fiz no youtube.

» Como a quarentena afetou o seu trabalho?

A princípio tudo parou, aqui no Brasil a coisa não foi bem gerenciada, para nós artistas sobraram as Lives para disputar audiência e tentar monetizar algo, mas as pessoas estão sem muitos recursos, é um momento ruim.

» Você tinha algum grande plano pra 2020 que você teve que cancelar ou adiar? Qual foi o impacto na sua vida?

Fiz a promessa de que faria 20 shows em 2020, era meu maior plano de carreira, lancei meu disco em junho e não tenho previsão de shows por enquanto.

» Desde que a quarentena começou, você começou a trabalhar em algum projeto novo, um novo hobby, novas habilidades, etc?

Estudei colagem digital em after effects para fazer um clipe para uma canção do disco novo. Comecei uma série de conversas com artistas musicais que eu queria conhecer melhor, se chama Forçando Amizade e parece um programinha de TV dos anos 90.

» Se sim, tem algum lugar online onde a gente pode saber mais informações sobre?

O resultado do clipe pode ser visto clicando aqui e a nova série de conversas clicando aqui.

» Algum conselho para as pessoas que possam estar enlouquecendo e procurando por coisas pra fazer/tentar?

Perdemos a ilusão de que podíamos controlar ou planejar nosso futuro próximo, mas o fato é que isso era possível mas não certo, nunca foi uma certeza, sempre dançamos conforme a música. Eu tenho buscado tentar plantar coisas que possam dar frutos após este momento, como estudar novas técnicas de vídeo, mas aproveitando-as já no agora, pois o futuro é algo que ainda não existe.

» Alguma dica de discos pra ouvir, livros pra ler, filmes/series pra assistir, e coisas do tipo?

Kidding, série do Michel Gondry com o Jim Carrey, vi durante a quarentena e fiquei apaixonado, talvez a melhor série que eu tenha visto em anos; E recomendo ouvirem meu disco “Não tô aqui para te influenciar”, músicas curtas sobre pessoas sentindo falta de outras pessoas; Eu também fiz esse curso no Domestika, uma plataforma EAD a que conheci na quarentena e tenho adorado!

» Quais são os melhores canais/redes para quem quiser te acompanhar?

Tem o meu site que é bem completinho e também o meu Instagram.

if you enjoyed this conversation, you may enjoy the other ones from the series by clicking here.

Before I Became A Photographer

It’s been 13 years since I graduated from college and 8 years since I quit my last job to become a full-time freelance Photographer. But that wasn’t my aspiration from the beginning…

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Before I became a Photographer, one of the things I wanted to do in life was to create “opening title” sequences for movies and tv shows. During my last year of college (as a Graphic Design major) I was already completely in love with movies and motion graphics, which I would later work with on my post-college jobs. My admiration for Opening Titles started when I was exposed to the work of the late Saul Bass, especially his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock in Psycho, Vertigo, and the big-screen adaptation of West Side Story, by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. That, combined with all the possibilities that computers brought to the job in more recent years, got me fascinated with the idea of exploring this interesting art form. While I did work on a couple of small projects here and there, I (unfortunately) never took it seriously enough to turn that admiration into a profession.

But that didn’t stop me from enjoying and getting excited whenever I see something well designed and executed! If you have access to HBO, I’m assuming you are aware of their new take on Perry Mason? Even though period movies/tv-shows were never my favorite type of stories to follow, two things grabbed me on this new version: the gorgeous lighting throughout all the episodes, that a lot of times makes me question if I’m looking at one of Edward Hopper’s paintings and, equally interesting, the brief seconds where they display the title of the show, with a very classic and elegant font choice. For just a few seconds, the characters walk in front of the titles as if it was just another prop in the scene. It’s such a small detail that adds so much to the experience! Check out some examples here.

If you, just like me, appreciate this art form, you will probably enjoy getting lost within the incredible database that the Art of the Title has to offer. You can thank me later!

How I built my daily routine with Tiny Habits and Streaks

Even though I've been a freelancer for almost a decade and haven't had a proper schedule in a long time, I was always fascinated by habits and routines, especially from other artists and creators, one of the reasons I recently read "Daily Rituals: How Artists Work". In recent years, there were 4 activities that I wanted to add to my daily routine but could never find the time or energy to do so: reading, journaling, meditating, and exercising, not necessarily in that order. Most of the time, I would get excited about something new, but after a few days or weeks, I'd drop without looking back. Everything changed when I came across two concepts:

1. Tiny Habits

Tiny Habits is a concept I first came across while reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos created by different people in the Productivity and Self-Improvement community, until a couple of months ago when I decided to go straight to the author and read "Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything”. In the book, BJ Fogg breaks down habit creation into identifying the habit you want to build, creating the best environment to make the new habit happen, mapping out behaviors, and sticking to your new habits. So when it comes down to a new habit, what you really want to focus on is to create the tiniest version of it that you can realistically follow through. If you want to start exercising, for example, you can't really convince yourself that starting tomorrow you're going to hit the gym for 1 hour every single day. What you can (probably) do is to start by working out for 10 minutes each day, and let it grow from there. Some days you may feel great and stay for the full hour, but on other days, if you don't feel like it, you can leave after 10 minutes feeling like you accomplished what you originally planned to do. Reading is another great example. If you're not a book worm, you're not going to force yourself to sit down and read 100 pages with no interruption. But if instead, you challenge yourself to read 10 pages (or minutes) every day, in 10 days you'll reach the same 100 pages that you wanted, and probably didn't get to because you dropped the idea right away. The whole idea is to implement small habits here and there and aim for the long run. After one, two, three months, or a year, you'll look back and be grateful for starting! You may surprise yourself by realizing that the tiny habit became something much bigger over time, or even morphed into something else without you realizing. If that doesn't happen, at least you developed a new habit and stuck with it! As BJ said in the book: "No matter how much you want to cultivate a healthy habit, you won’t be able to do it reliably if you start big."

2. Tracking your Habits

In parallel to creating a new habit, you need to find a way to track it. Not everybody will agree on this, but if you have a visually appealing way to see your progress over time, I promise you will feel way less encouraged to stop your new habit. For tracking, there are 2 ways that I tested and worked for myself:

→ A Monthly Calendar: Just print a blank calendar, write down the habit you are starting, and every day you do the new habit you go there and put a mark on the respective day. Put a big and colorful X on the box. In the beginning, you may feel discouraged by seeing one X and all the rest of the month blank, but you'll be surprised by how quickly you'll start filling out the boxes without realizing it. The magic here is that 1) you will get so excited when you see the month filling up that you won't want to skip a day and break the chain, and 2) you will start to look forward to doing the new habit just so you can quickly go there and update the calendar. It may sound silly, but it really works!

→ An App: Although I really like the calendar approach, I wanted to find a way I could easily track multiple habits at the same time. Being a technology enthusiast myself, the natural solution was to look for an App, and after testing out a few options, the one that resonated with me was Streaks, which I currently use on my iPhone. Streaks define itself as "The to-do list that helps you form good habits", and I couldn't agree more! It lets you select 12 different habits to track, with a lot of pre-designed options and the ability to create yours from scratch, if you don't see what you're looking for. After adding a new habit, you set up by deciding how often you want to do that specific habit and that's all! To start using, all you have to do is open up the app and press and hold to mark a habit as "done". What I love about the app is that it keep track of you "streak", showing you how many days in a row have you been doing it, what's your past record, and a few other valuable statistics. You can also add a bad habit that you are trying to break. Similar to the physical calendar approach, using the app will make you not want to skip a day and break the chain. For those who like to keep things digital, this app can really be a game-changer!

Here are the 9 habits I've been tracking with Streaks for the past 3 months or so, with the number of days I've completed in a row:

→ In the morning: 30 minutes of reading (79 days); 5 minutes of journaling (102 days); 5 minutes of meditation (94 days); 10 push-ups (50 days); Exercise (83 days).

→ In the evening: 30 minutes of reading (50 days); 5 minutes of meditation (48 days); flossing my teeth (86 days).

→ And a bad habit I'm trying to break: No snack in the evening (14 days).

Bonus 1: choose something you truly enjoy!

When trying to create a new (and necessary) habit, like exercising, it is important that you pay attention to your lifestyle and choose activities that you already enjoy doing it, instead of pushing to do something that you always hated. An example could be swimming instead of running on the treadmill. "Help yourself do what you already want to do." - BJ Fogg

Bonus 2: The Two Day Rule

Really enjoy this concept I first came across watching this video from Matt D'Avella on YouTube. What he basically says is that if you are trying to implement a daily habit, you should focus on never skipping 2 days in a row. You are allowed to break the chain and take a day off from the habit, as long as you get right back to it the next day. This allows you to take multiple days off, without feeling discouraged and dropping the habit from your life altogether. It can be a game-changer approach for a lot of people struggling with consistency!

Before & After: Williamsburg Bridge

This is not going to be a post about why every Photographer should be always shooting in RAW mode, but to talk about a specific tool inside Lightroom instead: the Transform tool - which in my opinion, is one of the most powerful ones.

As an Architecture enthusiastic, I'm a huge fan of ultra-wide lenses, giving me the opportunity to fit much more of the subject in the frame without having to move that farther out. But one of the disadvantages of using a wide-lens is that, the closer you get to your subject, the more distorted it will look in the frame, especially on the perimeters. Unless you are using a tilt-shift lens (like a 24mm or a 17mm), of course, which wasn't my case.

When revisiting some photos I took of the Williamsburg Bridge (NYC) back in 2017, I came across this classic view under the bridge, from Manhattan looking towards Brooklyn. Before getting into any color correction and lighting adjustments, I focused on correcting the perspective of the bridge, wanting to achieve a more realistic look as opposed to all the distortion caused by the lens. On using the "Transform" panel (normally the third from the bottom), all I had to do in this case was to select the "guided" option and, using 2 lines to guide me, trace them in parallel to each side of the bridge. And just like magic, Lightroom brings back the original perspective that you'd see by standing at the location from where this picture was taken. From there, I manually adjusted the "Aspect" and "Scale" little by little until I got the results I was looking for.

Williamsburg Bridge, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro

To finish up, I went through all the usual basic adjustments I normally do for all my work, to achieve the lighting and colors of my signature style. Here's a before and after of the process:

Williamsburg Bridge, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro

📸 • Equipment used to take this photograph: Canon 6D + Canon 16/35mm 2.8

🎙 • Soundtrack while writing this post: Partir, by Nuven

The DO’s and DON’Ts about being a Photographer’s Assistant, and why everybody should do it at least once!

Years ago, before Photography became something that anybody and everybody could do, mostly due to the advance of technology and social media, being an Assistant was one of the few ways to start a career in Photography. Being side by side with a working Photographer would give you not only the chance of learning the skills but also to navigate through different situations, from communicating with clients to set-up and break down equipment, to everything post-production related. It was also a way to establish relationships that could lead you to your first jobs down the road.

When I started my career in Photography, about a decade ago, being an Assistant wasn’t something that everybody wanted to do, unless you were specifically looking to get your feet through the door on working in a studio shooting more commercial jobs. In my case, I was coming from a Graphic Design and Video background, so my first experiences as an assistant came from assisting DPs on small film sets, mainly keeping an eye on the gear and helping the cinematographer changing lenses, setting up lighting, backup footage from memory cards, etc. From the start, one of my favorite things about doing that was simply being present and ready to help in any way that was within my expertise (or sometimes not). From there, I assisted a couple of different Wedding Photographers and a couple of studio portrait sessions. But after that, I ended up moving forward with my own shoots, back then almost exclusive in the Music Photography spectrum.

NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

Until about 6 years ago, already living in NYC, when I started to help out assisting other Photographers, more towards studio/portraits/commercial shoots. In parallel to spending most of my time shooting Music, I then started to slowly explore the world of Architectural Photography and, once I realized I was truly interested in the subject, the natural path was to connect with more stabilized Photographers in the field and go back to assisting, which I’ve been doing for the past 3 years or so. But to my surprise, the more I did that, the more I realized how much I enjoyed being the assistant and wasn’t necessarily rushing to get my own clients.

→ So here are 6 reasons why every Photographer should consider being an Assistant:

  1. You will slowly learn the skills and specifics for that type of Photography;

  2. Even if you already consider yourself good, you will still end up learning a lot, since us Photographers tend to do things differently from one another;

  3. More importantly, you will learn how to navigate through different situations during the Photoshoot;

  4. It’s an opportunity to step back, be helpful and absorb as much as you can about everything that’s happening around you;

  5. It’s one of the best ways to create a good impression and connect with other people in that field you are interested in;

  6. At the end of the day, you get to go home and don’t have to worry about post-production, communicating with the client, etc, unless you are also responsible for that, of course, which is not always the case.

→ The DO’s when assisting on any type of shoot:

  • Always be humble and prompt to help;

  • Don’t go out of your way trying to give suggestions or teach anything to the Photographer, unless you feel you are welcome or (even better) if you’re being asked to do so;

  • Have a “problem-solving” frame of mind;

  • Act like the Photographer’s second pair of eyes and make sure everything is running smoothly;

  • Stay positive and enjoy the experience!

→ The DON’Ts when assisting on any type of shoot:

  • Don’t use your cellphone during the shoot! Unless (obviously) you are asked to make a phone call, check something online, etc. Otherwise, don’t keep checking your notifications every 5 seconds, seriously.

  • Don’t engage in conversations with the client, unless they are directed to you. Remember that they are the Photographer’s client, not yours.

  • Never (I said NEVER) use the opportunity to network, thinking you’ll get jobs out of it. If the opportunity is ever there, the Photographer (you are assisting) will remember and refer you, considering you do a great job, of course.

  • Bonus Tip: if you have a bag with you, even something small like a fanny pack, keep your keys, wallet, and cellphone there at all times, you’ll be way less distracted and tempted to check all the time.

→ Here is a list of things that may be helpful to have with you in most situations when assisting, because every assistant should carry a few useful tools and save the day:

  • Lens Pocket: this is especially handy if you are working outdoors, moving around quickly, and assisting a Photographer that needs to constantly change in between a couple of lenses. This way you won't have to reach inside the camera back all the time. Just make sure you get the one that will fit the lens(es) you will need to carry, of course;

  • Gaffers Tape: This is a super strong and versatile tape that is easy to use and to remove it (depending on the surface). You've probably seen it and didn't know the name;

  • Multi-Plier: A multi-tool that folds nicely and you can carry all-around with you. You may not use it all the time, but you'll be thankful to have one when the day comes;

  • Sharpies: Always good to have a couple (or more) around, to be able to mark and label diverse things;

  • Utility Knife: Another one that you may not use all the time, but can come useful on occasion;

  • iPhone Charger: who doesn't want to be the popular person on the set always ready to save the day when someone needs to charge their phone?

  • Multi-Card Reader: this can be handy especially if you're working on a set where pictures will be downloaded on the go;

  • Lens Care Kit: extremely useful to have in your kit and be able to quickly clean a lens or a screen;

  • Hex Key Set: as the multi-tool, you may not use this one all the time, but it's nice to have with you;

  • A small bag: and in case you don't want to bring all of this loose inside a backpack, you can use a smaller bag like this, or even smaller, depending on the kit you are planning to carry around. You can get creative here, based on your style and size you need.

In-Camera Multiple Exposures, part 2

One year ago I wrote a blog post on how to take In-Camera Multiple Exposures With the Fujifilm X-T2, which quickly became one of the most visited pages on my website. Following that, I decided to bring a second part, exploring a little further a few different styles I normally use when shooting Multiple Exposures. If you're not familiar with the technique, I highly recommend reading last year's entry first.

Keep in mind that not all of these "styles" will work with any kind of subject, so the idea is to explore and experiment as much as possible until you have a better understanding of what results each of them brings to the image. The more you try it, you'll start having a better judgment to know what works best on each scenario.

→ Upside Down

After taking the first shot, you turn the camera upside down, re-frame it, and take the second shot. There are basically 2 ways of approaching this: 1) Framing both shots keeping the horizon in the center; or 2) Framing both shots but this time keeping the bottom of the picture (normally the ground) in the center:

San Francisco | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

Both cases will result in a mirrored and keep your final image very symmetrical.

Kate K-S @ National Sawdust, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

→ Out of Focus

For this one, after taking the first shot exactly the way you want it, you switch the lens to manual focus, blur everything on purpose and place the same subject (blurred in this case) a little higher in the frame, knowing that the area was pretty dark in the first shot. Another option is to look for other bright colors and lighting sources to use it as the second shot:

Natalie Forteza @ The Iridium, NYC | @ Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

→ Zoom in or Out

What you do here is, using a zoom lens (of any range), after taking the first shot you simply zoom in (or out) from your subject, reframe to make sure you still have enough interesting things on the frame, and take the second shot. In both examples, both shots were sharp, but you can also experiment with zooming in (or out) while also blurring everything on the second shot.

Manhattan Bridge, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro Reuben Koops | © Leonardo Mascaro

Manhattan Bridge, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro Reuben Koops | © Leonardo Mascaro

→ Rotation

This one works better with 3 (or more) exposures. What you do is, after the first shot, slightly rotate the camera (trying not to change the composition much) on each subsequent shot. In this case, more things in the scene (and an interesting background) can really make a difference.

ABIAH @ Joe's Pub, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

→ Final Thoughts

At first, it's going to be a lot of trial and error but, at some point, you will start to have a better idea of how to frame the second shot to achieve the results you are looking for. The more you practice, the more you'll understand the possibilities and you will start visualizing the images in your mind even before you take it. But also keep in mind that not all the techniques will work well in any scenario. Sometimes nothing will work actually.

Like almost every other technique, the most important thing is to just keep shooting until you get the hang of it. There's always room for improvement. Here are a few other examples for inspiration. Have fun!

Los Angeles, CA | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

Upright Man @ Brooklyn Bowl, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

Louvre Museum, Paris | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

Addie & Jacq @ Rockwood Music Hall, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D

Leah Harris @ Rockwood Music Hall, NYC | © Leonardo Mascaro • Equipment used: Canon 6D